DeSmith stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Stars win in Boston last Thursday. With Jake Oettinger starting on Friday, DeSmith will get the second-half of the back-to-back on Saturday vs. the Panthers. He's had a great start to his Stars career, going 2-1-0 with a 1.69 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout in three starts.
With Tampa Bay looking for a season-best four-game winning streak, they will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Friday night for his fifth straight start. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down season, with a 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% in nine games (6-3-1), but has been exceptional lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a stellar .962 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Friday as slight +103 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club with only one regulation loss (6-1-2).
Ullmark has had an inconsistent start to his tenure as a Senator, partly derailed due to injuries, but was tremendous in his last outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Blues and will return to the crease on Friday night against the New York Rangers. The Senators are sporting a 5-4-0 record and rank in the top five in the league offensively, averaging 4.2 goals per game. That said, the Senators enter the action on Friday as +170 road underdogs against a Rangers club with a 6-2-1 record.
Shesterkin will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when he returns to the crease for the Rangers on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Shesterkin was busy in his last outing, saving a season-high 41 shots, but allowed four goals (.911 SV%) in the 5-3 losing effort against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers enter the action on Friday as -187 home favorites against the high-scoring Ottawa Senators (4.2 GF / GP).
The Jets will give Connor Hellebuyck the night off on Friday and turn to Comrie between the pipes for his third start of the season. The 29-year-old Comrie has been serviceable in limited action this season, posting a respectable 3.00 GAA and .915 SV% through two contests (2-0-0). The Jets enter the action on Friday as -178 road favorites against a surprising Columbus Blue Jackets club (5-3-1) that ranks fifth-best in the league with a +10 goal differential.
Liljegren was acquired from the Maple Leafs on Wednesday in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, and defenceman Matt Benning. He amassed 14 goals and 51 assists in 197 career games with the Maple Leafs and should be afforded plenty more playing time in San Jose.
Forbort has missed the last six games, replaced by Erik Brannstrom, while he has been away from the team for personal reasons. In three games this season, the 32-year-old Forbort has one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and one hit.
In mid-September, the Canucks announced that 28-year-old Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and successfully had a tumor removed but would not be ready for the start of training camp. The fifth-year winger is coming off his best season in 2023-24, with 18 goals, 32 points, 60 PIMs, 84 SOG, and a +19 plus/minus through 63 games played.
The Devils have rolled with Markstrom during a two-game winning streak and will turn to him again on Friday night against the Calgary Flames. Markstrom struggled to start the season, allowing three or more goals in five of his first seven games (3-3-1), posting a .891 SV%, but has been incredible in his last two, boasting a superb .957 SV% in his last two (2-0-0). The Devils enter the action on Friday as -175 road favorites against a Flames team that has lost four straight.
Luneau was the 53rd overall pick of the Ducks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old recorded zero points a -5 plus/minus in six games with the Ducks this season.
Stone was not at practice on Friday due to the birth of his child and his status for Saturday's game against Utah HC is currently uncertain. The 32-year-old Stone is off to a monstrous start to the 2024-25 campaign, tied for the lead in NHL scoring with 19 points (5G / 14A) in 11 games.
In the front end of a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars as part of the NHL Global Series in Finald, the Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a pedestrian 2.97 GAA and .892 SV%. That said, Bobrovsky has been sensational against the Dallas Stars in his career, posting a 2.35 GAA and .924 SV% in 23 contests (18-2-2). The Panthers enter Friday's contest against the Stars as -118 favorites.
Justin Kirkland will be a healthy scratch for the first time since the opening game of the season, as Rooney re-enters the lineup for the Flames. In three games this season, Rooney has a -1 plus/minus and 10 hits.
Daniil Miromanov will draw into the Flames lineup for his ninth game of the season, replacing Bean. The 26-year-old Bean had a -2 plus/minus in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Utah HC but has been productive from the blueline this season, tallying three points (1G / 2A) in seven games.
Kevin Rooney will draw into the Flames lineup on Friday, replacing Kirkland after playing nine straight games. The 26-year-old Kirkland has been productive in a limited role this season, averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and scoring five points (1G / 4A) in nine games.
Jake Bean will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Miromanov to re-enter the lineup for the Flames. The 27-year-old Miromanov has been a regular in the lineup most of the season for the Flames, averaging 17:56 time-on-ice, recording one assist, 12 blocks, and five hits in eight games.
With Tampa Bay looking for a season-best four-game winning streak, they will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Friday night for his fifth straight start. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down season, with a 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% in nine games (6-3-1), but has been exceptional lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a stellar .962 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Friday as slight +103 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club with only one regulation loss (6-1-2).
Coronato played five games with the Flames earlier this season, scoring two points (2G / 0A), and will draw back into their lineup after Samuel Honzek was reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). Coronato was the 13th overall pick of the Flames in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and had an excellent 2023-24 campaign with the Wranglers, scoring 42 points (15G / 27A) in 41 games.
Tarasenko was battling the flu and did not play on Wednesday, but will return to the lineup of Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old Tarasenko is off to a slow start in his inaugural season with the Red Wings, scoring only three points (2G / 1A) in his first nine games.
The Red Wings have been wildly inconsistent to start the 2024-25 season, heavily relying on their goaltenders, with a 4-5-1 record. Talbot will get the start in the crease on Saturday and has been equally inconsistent, a byproduct of porous team play, posting a 3.16 GAA and .913 SV% in five appearances (2-1-1). The Red Wings, with Alex Lyon between the pipes, were defeated 5-3 by the Buffalo Sabres one week ago.
